The opportunity to start your own small business, and become rich, has never been better than right now. Your idea, your dream, your vision, even your hobby could come to reality if you have the desire to try and make it happen.
First, find something you like to do. Something that’s fun. Why not? Otherwise, stay in your current job working for others and not enjoying it. Next, set some objectives. Start with how much money you want to pay yourself. This is easy because you’ve become your own boss. Then determine where the income will come from and how much it might be. Now, figure the costs to produce your product or service. Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Well it’s not. Why? Because you haven’t done it before.
This is where a SCORE volunteers can help. They will walk you through the process step by step. SCORE volunteers are experienced business men and women who “have been there, done that.” Someone along their life journey stepped in to give them a chance to become successful. And now they are willing to help you and others become successful. They meet with you face-to-face. And the counseling is free.
SCORE volunteer counselors, or mentors, will help you at the very beginning to form your proposed business or company. They will help you determine your markets and how to reach them; analyze the competition; guide you through the preparation of an operating statement; discuss areas to be watchful; and review your plan to achieve results. You will do the work. SCORE mentors will give you options to consider so that you make the decisions. You are the new boss. It’s your business plan. Preparing the plan is the hardest part of starting a business. As with any activity, practice and/or preparation is always the most difficult. Executing the plan requires discipline and should be fun. SCORE would like to share in your success.
SCORE also helps existing businesses. If your business is stagnant, failing or wants to reach a new plateau by growing or expanding into new markets, SCORE volunteers are available to listen and offer options to help you. This is a very changing economy in which we exist. If your business doesn’t make the changes necessary to compete, then you cannot expect the results to change. Nor will they be any different in the future. Many of the changes that affect your business, like taxes, vendor costs, legislation, employee personal problems, are not in your control.
SCORE volunteers have experienced these same problems over their many years in business. They are former CPAs, tax consultants, insurance and financial executives, marketers and trainers from many industries. They are professional men and women who have people skills, know how to negotiate, planners, problem solvers and disciplined managers. Many have contacts throughout the world. They know how to work smart and how to make money.
SCORE is a business, a volunteer organization of more than 11,000 counselors dedicated to helping small businesses become successful and grow. We need to make the Prescott area and Northern Arizona economies stronger. By co-working, networking and working together with the numerous resources available, we can accomplish that goal. If you are interested in meeting with a SCORE counselor, simply go to www.northernarizona.score.org and request a mentor. Or, call the local office at 928-778-7438. The SCORE office is located at 1228 Willow Creek Road, Prescott, Arizona, 86301. QCBN
By Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones is president of the Northern Arizona Chapter of SCORE and a certified mentor.
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